Slipcovered armchairs, part 3: Getting there

When I last posted about sewing slipcovers for the armchairs in my reading nook, I was struggling. Only one skirt was tacked on, and even the throw pillows were unfinished.

Where am I today?

I'm happy to report that TWO skirts are now tacked on, and both throw pillows are complete. I still have to actually stitch the skirts on (I don't know why I am dreading that step so much), and I also need to attach the piece of fabric that goes underneath the seat cushion. You won't actually be able to see this piece, but it will help keep the rest of the slipcover in place. See how the arms are kind of saggy baggy elephant?

Poor elephant. At least the chairs only have to deal with my scornful looks and laziness. There are no laughing parrots to deal with.

Reality bites - aka, a slipcover update

I had the best of intentions, I really did. And the slipcovers have come a long way. But the reality is, I still have a long way to go on these puppies. I thought maybe if I went public with it, I'd have some motivation to actually finish the project(s).

So, here it is. The "reading nook." (Obvious disclaimer: I need to take a photography class.)

Eeeek! Sure, it's come a long way since these days:

But I need to motivate! Actually sew the first skirt on to the slipcover, and pin and sew the second skirt while I'm at it. And how about ironing the fabric for the pillows and actually making cases, instead of just wrapping the fabric around the pillow forms.

Have you ever heard the saying "Fake it until you make it?" (My husband learned it in medical school ... scary thought, huh?) Well, I'm faking it all right. Now I need to make it.

Do you ever lose steam halfway through a project? How do you finally make yourself finish?

Slipcovered armchairs, part I

I inherited two arm chairs from my aunt and uncle. Their heyday passed many years ago, but the shape and quality of the chairs is good.

One was a blue courderoy, which has faded to purple, and the other is cream colored. The cream chair is disgusting - the fabric is not in good condition at all. It has spent the past five years hidden under a blanket, looking kind of like it belongs in a fraternity house.

This weekend, I set out to do what I've been waiting a long time for: Slipcover the chairs. There's no way I could fix the seat cushions on my own (they're made out of latex, which was soft and squishy in the 1970s when the chairs were new. Now they are decomposing and are rock-hard). So, I loaded them into the car and went down the road to Freddy Farkel's.

OMG, it was amazing! I lingered in all the aisles, but found the fabric of my dreams in the warehouse aisle ... for $2/yard!! I dropped the cushions off for their reupholsterer to cover and freshen, but I'm attempting to make the slipcovers for the bodies of the chairs on my own.

The blue fabric is for the chairs, and the color crewelwork piece is a sample I picked up from the scrap bin. It will be cut into two, for two cute little pillows for the updated chairs.